Trail Magic for Families and Kids
A guidebook titled Earth Adventures in the Halifax Region is being launched today, Dec. 11, by the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission and Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). The book is the first of its kind offering exciting outdoor adventures.
"This is a unique guidebook that can't be found elsewhere," said co-author George Taylor, HRM's outdoor recreation and earth education specialist. "It gives parents and leaders tools to add magic to the trails."
Earth Adventures provides detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for 25 hikes on beautiful nature trails in HRM. The guidebook offers a treasure chest of adventures that entice people along the trails in a quest to solve secret codes and discover hidden plaques.
Each walking adventure provides a series of compelling activities related to the creatures, forests and seashores along the way. Whether leading a family outing, class or youth group, using Earth Adventures will enhance the activity.
Some of the book's adventures include sneaking through Shubie Park as raccoon thieves, traveling through time amidst the ruins of McNabs Island, exploring Taylor Head as space aliens on safari, discovering the Wizard of Woodens River, or finding the hidden mouse on each trail.
The book offers an ongoing interactive element. Adventurers can post trail pictures, drawings and discoveries online at www.earthed.ns.ca where they can also access the latest trail updates and tips. When adventurers register online, they can also receive a free trails poster and creature stickers for every trail completed and enjoy annual celebrations for families and groups.
The book, co-authored by Mr. Taylor, Janet Barlow and Alan Warner with drawings by Lois Bearden, can be purchased for $14.95 at HRM community recreation centres and customer service centres, Mountain Equipment Co-op and The Trail Shop in Halifax. Proceeds go to programs at HRM's Adventure Earth Centre.
HRM's department of Recreation, Culture and Heritage works to enrich the lives of residents and communities by providing quality, affordable and accessible recreation and leisure activities, services and facilities through programming and community development.
Recreation, Culture and Heritage is dedicated to youth development of life, social and specialized skills. Through the Adventure Earth Centre, the department provides school and group earth-education programs, adventures, camps and leadership training to HRM youth.
The Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission provided $11,000 towards the publication of Earth Adventures, which encourages and supports physical activity for children, youth and families.